S.A. fans pack watch parties for World Cup final

David Valdez let's nerves get the best of him as Germany misses a goal near the end of the World Cup Finals game.

S.A. fans celebrate Germany’s win at the World Cup

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

German-born Tom Piasecki, celebrates with Liz Piasecki as Germany scores the first, and thus far only, goal in the World Cup Finals game at Beethoven Maennerchor Halle in South Town.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

German supporters at Beethoven Maennerchor Halle cheer as the first, and thus far only, goal is scored during extra time at the World Cup Final game.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

Hundreds of people crowd around a television at Beethoven Maennerchor Halle in South Town to watch Germany and Argentina play in the World Cup Final.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

Fans decked in traditional German garb root on their team during the World Cup at Beethoven Maennerchor Halle in South Town.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

Julian Torres watches the World Cup at Ojos Locos sports bar on the Northwest Side of town. He and his family are all rooting for Argentina to win the Championship against Germany. The score is tied 27 minutes in to the game.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

Eddie Bustamante grabs his head in frustration as Argentina misses a sure - shot goal during a World Cup watch party at the sports bar Ojos Locos on the Northwest Side of town.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

Fans watch the World Cup at Ojos Loco on the Northwest Side of town. A manger said about 375 people are watching the game in the standing room only sports bar.

Photo By By J. Almendarez, Express-News

Victor Palencia roots for Argentina at Ojos Locos sports bar on the Northwest Side while watching the World cup with Alicia Gonzalez and other Germany fans. "I always have to go against the other ones," he said.

Mireya Hernandez, 16, sat at a table at Jason's Deli on the Northwest Side of town cheering for Argentina while watching the World Cup final on a 23-inch flat screen. She is trying to get in a few minutes worth of game time before clocking in to her afternoon shift at the sandwich shop.

She's missing out on a watch party her family always has during the World Cup. "We watch it. We all get together," she said adding that her family is combining their watch party with her grandmother's birthday this year.

The lone Argentina and World Cup fan is a far cry from the 375-person watch party across the parking lot from her at Ojos Locos Sports Cantina.

The restaurant was at capacity since before the game started, with people drinking out of tall beer towers, munching on ceviche and hot wings, but most importantly, screaming at television screens every time Argentinian soccer players come close to scoring a goal.

Victor Palencia is an Argentina fan seated among his Germany cheering friends. "I always have to go against the other ones," he said. "Even if I end up losing."

Germany crushed their last opponent, Brazil, 7-1 on Tuesday, making it a popular pick for the championship win.

General Manager Aramis Santiago said the bar has been a World Cup hot spot, even hosting over 700 people in parking lot viewing parties throughout the series."We're committed to putting the sound and putting the game on all the TVs," he said about the bar's 87 screens.

He said the bar has especially focused on showing Latin American match ups and USA games, ordering extra beer and having security in place throughout the World Cup viewing parties.

Across town, about 500 people were crowded into Beethoven Maennerchor Halle, decked in traditional German garb and creating a sea of black, red and yellow support for Germany.

People's faces lit up and fell with every near miss as the teams duked it out during over time.

Melton Schultz, the Bar Chairman, says the place has been packed for nearly all the World Cup games, a change from the World Cup crown four years ago.

"The U.S. crowd was a lot bigger than the German crowd was," he said about the games earlier in the tournament.

David Valdez, a life-long Germany fan, watched the game, standing at the back of a packed viewing area. When asked how he felt about the tense match while it was scoreless in extra time, he kept staring at the screen and replied, "Nervous."

Germany scored the first and only goal of the game with about five minutes left in extra time and went on to win the 2014 World Cup.